West Point, N.Y. – The Army West Point Black Knights celebrated a milestone victory on Sunday afternoon, earning their 400th program win with a commanding 3-1 triumph over Loyola Maryland in the Patriot League Playoffs first round at Malek Stadium at Clinton Field.
The No. 3-seeded Black Knights (12-5-2) showcased their championship pedigree with contributions from three different goal scorers, advancing to the semifinals where they’ll face No. 2 Colgate on Thursday, Nov. 6, in Hamilton, N.Y.
First Half Dominance Sets the Tone
Army wasted little time asserting control, with junior forward Sabrina Rogers opening the scoring in the 9th minute. Rogers displayed her tenacity by dispossessing a Loyola defender just outside the box, carrying the ball forward, and firing a precise shot into the left corner of the net for her sixth goal of the season.
“Three amazing goals and honestly two amazing individual efforts by Sab and Brigid on theirs,” head coach reflected postgame. “Sab just was relentless on the first and able to read and pick off the opponent in their build and then place it perfectly.”
The Black Knights dominated possession in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Greyhounds 10-3 and controlling 62% of possession to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
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Second Half Surge Seals Victory
Army doubled its advantage just 2:45 into the second half when junior Maddi Woodward netted her first goal of the season – and first career game-winning goal. Senior Bella Cooke orchestrated the play, carrying the ball down the left side before delivering a perfect pass into the box. Senior Brigid Duffy cleverly let the ball run through to Woodward at the top of the box, who struck a clinical shot into the upper right corner.
“Woody’s goal was just a great combination and honestly a great read to see Woody open for a composed and such a well-placed finish,” the coach noted.
Duffy added an insurance goal in the 57th minute, her team-leading 14th of the season. After receiving a through ball from Rogers at midfield, Duffy outpaced the Loyola defense, carried the ball across the box, and calmly slotted it past goalkeeper Hannah Goetzer to make it 3-0.
Loyola’s Savannah Manset pulled one back in the 63rd minute, but Army’s defense held firm to preserve the victory.
Resilience After Adversity
The win represented a significant bounce-back performance for the Black Knights following their regular-season finale.
“Huge bounce back. Great collective effort in how we approached every aspect of this day,” the coach said. “We talked about how it’s going to take all 28 players and stay banded together. And today we did that. So proud.”
Statistical Dominance
Army’s offensive pressure was evident throughout the match:
- 19 total shots to Loyola’s 7
- 9 shots on target compared to the Greyhounds’ 4
- 58% possession for the match
- 3 corner kicks to Loyola’s 2
Sophomore midfielder Grace Pohlidal led all players with five shots, tying her career high. Goalkeeper Karalyn Dailearned the win with three saves, improving to 10-4-2 on the season.
“Karalyn continues to be solid for us,” the coach praised. “She’s grown so much throughout the season and I’m proud of how she continues to grow.”
Key Contributors
Army West Point:
- Sabrina Rogers: 1 goal (6th of season), 1 shot on target, 68 minutes
- Maddi Woodward: 1 goal (1st of season), 2 shots on target, 47 minutes
- Brigid Duffy: 1 goal (14th of season), 4 shots, 65 minutes
- Bella Cooke: 1 assist, 3 shots, 61 minutes
- Grace Pohlidal: 5 shots, 90 minutes
- Karalyn Dail: 3 saves, 1 goal allowed, 90 minutes (W, 10-4-2)
Loyola Maryland:
- Savannah Manset: 1 goal (3rd of season), 2 shots, 75 minutes
- Hannah Goetzer: 6 saves, 3 goals allowed, 90 minutes (L, 4-3-7)
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Match Details
- Date: November 2, 2025
- Venue: Malek Stadium at Clinton Field, West Point, N.Y.
- Attendance: 1,254
- Match Duration:1:56
- Officials: Joseph Poremba (referee), George Frascione, Kyle O’Grady (assistant referees), David Bork (alternate official)
- Disciplinary Actions: Yellow cards issued to Loyola’s Brigid McElderry (22:02) and Asma Merzougui (78:15)
Historic Milestone
The victory marked the 400th win in Army women’s soccer program history, a testament to decades of excellence and competitive tradition. The Black Knights have now reached the Patriot League semifinals in four consecutive seasons, establishing themselves as perennial championship contenders.
Army swept the season series against Loyola Maryland (5-5-8), improving to 2-0-0 against the Greyhounds in 2025.
Looking Ahead
The Black Knights will travel to Hamilton, N.Y., for a semifinal showdown with No. 2 Colgate on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. A victory would send Army to the Patriot League Championship game and keep their conference title hopes alive.
“For us, it’s continuing to stay true to our identity,” the coach emphasized. “We’ve got the group to continue to compete, and it’s one day at a time and keep enjoying each of these moments.”
With momentum building and three different goal scorers demonstrating the team’s offensive depth, Army West Point appears poised to make a deep playoff run as it chases both conference glory and a potential NCAA Tournament berth.
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